For at least two thousand years, women in western India have had a historic presence. We know several by their names and exploits, across multiple centuries and dynasties. From the matronymic Satavahanas to Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, there have been notable women known for various administrative and martial qualities, and also for their patronage and valour. At our Online Talk #Herstory, scholar and author Pushkar Sohoni celebrates this herstory (not history) of this region and looks at the reasons for this defiance of conventional gender roles. About the speaker Pushkar Sohoni teaches at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune. He received a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania for his work on the Deccan sultanates, and has authored several dozen essays and books on architectural history. He also has research interests in epigraphy, numismatics and socio-linguistics.